NCC Vows Stronger Consumer Protection, Holds Operators Accountable

NCC Vows Stronger Consumer Protection

OpenLife News reports that the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has vowed to strengthen consumer protection and hold telecom operators accountable for poor service quality and service failures.

Executive Vice Chairman of the Commission, Dr. Aminu Maida, stated this at the 95th Telecom Consumer Parliament held in Lagos with the theme: “Enhancing Consumer Experience: Strengthening Service Quality and Consumer Protection in Nigeria’s Digital Economy.”

Maida said the Commission is focused on enforcing service standards, ensuring transparent billing, and guaranteeing accessible redress mechanisms for subscribers.

“The NCC has an obligation to protect consumers by setting clear standards, holding service providers accountable, and ensuring that there is a fair way to seek redress. We must judge our work by the difference it makes to your experience,” he said.

He noted that network failures have real consequences for Nigerians.

“For a trader waiting to confirm a customer’s payment, a network failure can mean a lost sale, while a student trying to submit an assignment can miss a deadline because of a slow connection.

“People want their phones to work, their charges to make sense and someone to take responsibility when things go wrong,” Maida added.

The EVC disclosed that operators have carried out over 6,500 network improvement interventions in 2026, including capacity expansions, equipment upgrades and deployment of newer technologies to improve voice and data services.

He urged consumers to use the Commission’s public coverage maps and performance-monitoring tools on the NCC website to compare network performance in their locations.

Maida also decried persistent vandalism of telecom infrastructure, including fibre cuts and theft of equipment, which he said continues to disrupt services nationwide.

He revealed that about 75 million subscribers have benefited from airtime compensation under the NCC’s Consumer Compensation Framework in 2026.

“We will continue to hold operators accountable for the quality of service they provide,” he assured.

Earlier, Executive Commissioner Stakeholder Management, Rimini Makama, said the Parliament was designed to deepen conversations around service reliability, billing transparency and complaint resolution.

“When you pay for a service, you should be able to depend on it. You should be able to understand your data usage, your charges and any Value-Added Services on your line, without confusion.

“When you raise a complaint, you deserve to be listened to and helped in good time,” she said.